Miguel Meza, shown in 2012, takes a break while working at the Boys & Girls Club of Craig. Meza recently competed for Colorado Youth of the Year with teenagers from across the state, representing the entirety of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado.

Craig teen competes for Boys & Girls Club Colorado Youth of the Year

Craig  Miguel Meza, of Craig, recently attended the Colorado Youth of the Year Competition on March 17 and 18 in Denver.

The event honored teenage members of the Boys & Girls Club who have been selected as Youths of the Year from their various regions of the state. Meza was among 14 total finalists for the honor of representing Colorado at the national level.

The Moffat County High School sophomore first was selected as Youth of the Year at the local level at the end of 2013, because of his essay detailing how the organization has affected his life.

He also later was picked to represent the entirety of Northwest Colorado, which includes the Craig and Steamboat Springs branches.

Meza and the other entrants spoke about their time at the Boys & Girls Club as well as their plans after high school, with the state-level competition’s honors including college scholarships.

“I think Miguel did a great job representing the Boys & Girls Club, Northwest Colorado and himself,” Craig Unit Director Kim Maneotis said. “He made some new friendships, learned new skills he can bring back to the club and the gift of public speaking, which is something you use your whole life.”

Although Meza was not selected as Colorado’s Youth of the Year, he did receive a laptop computer as a prize and was to able to enjoy a number of activities in Denver, including his first professional sporting event, attending a Denver Nuggets game.

“We’re kind of secluded over here, so there’s a lot of things he hasn’t been able to experience, and that’s the whole foundation of the Boys & Girls Club — to give kids the chance to experience things they wouldn’t have the opportunity to and to be the best that they can be,” Maneotis said.